Holy Work

Holy Work

Baking is one of my favorite things, but I haven’t done it very often lately.  Motivation and life have gotten in the way.  Except for last night.  I decided to make rice crispy treats.  I’ve tried it with both tahini and peanut butter and like pb better.)  Once I finished I decided to be extra and add chocolate.  I turned on the burner and got the water boiling.  Then put on the double boiler and added the chocolate.

“Mom come quick!  Dad said to get you!”

I turned off the burner and ran into the bedroom to see my 4 year old start throwing up.  All over the carpet.  He wouldn’t move.  We picked him up and got him to the bathroom very upset.  He didn’t want dad.  Only mom.  And he threw up again.  I went from chocolate to vomit in a moment.  He was crying and his cough was barking.  The more he cried, the more he barked.

This kid hates to show pain or sickness from the depths of his soul.  Anytime he gets hurt it’s an immediate “I’m okay.  Don’t look at me.  Leave me alone.”  He didn’t want dad.  He didn’t want his brother to even look in the bathroom.  But he wanted me.

Together

I did the only thing I could think of. We sat on the edge of the bathtub cover in sickness, together and rocked.  I rocked and prayed and rocked.  He settled and fell asleep.

We got his clothes changed and a wet wipe bath and snuggled together into bed.  And he slept.

When I returned to my chocolate, it hadn’t burned, but was waiting for me.  I drizzled and enjoyed.

The next morning repeated itself.  No vomit, but rocking and being present. As I write this, I’m setting in bed, listening to a barking cough.

This is holy work.

Being present when someone you love needs you.

Being covered in sickness, not of either of our own doing, but in it together.

How have you practiced holy work?